Do Personal Convictions Promote Scientific Progress? Comment on Gagné's “My Convictions about the Nature of Abilities, Gifts, and Talents”

Abstract

Professor Françoys Gagné's article entitled “My Convictions About the Nature of Abilities, Gifts, and Talents” is discussed. Although the author accepts many of Gagné's statements, a comprehensive rationale for the opinion presented is missing. In particular, explanation of developmental mechanisms, of learning processes, and of the dynamics of gene-environment interaction would have made Gagné's convictions more acceptable and would make discussion easier. This author doubts that agreement among colleagues would be sufficient to define giftedness unless the main theoretical questions are answered.